Today’s Always Uplifting Verse and Devotional to start your day off right!

Crossroads of Hope

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Psalm 146:8 — The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. 

Sometimes I wonder what it must have been like to be alive when Jesus walked the earth.

Can you imagine?

Actually seeing Him.

Hearing His voice.

Watching Him stop for someone everybody else had overlooked.

Seeing the compassion in His eyes as He reached out to someone who was hurting.

Wouldn’t that have been incredible?

But then I remember something.

Jesus hasn’t stopped reaching people.

And our friend Jacob knows something about that.

Jacob shared a story with us about one of the darkest nights of his life.

He had reached a place where the pain felt unbearable.

He was overwhelmed, exhausted, and convinced that his life didn’t matter anymore.

In fact, he had been thinking about ending it.

And that night, he found himself sitting alone in his car, wondering if anybody would even notice if he was gone.

Can you imagine feeling that forgotten?

That hopeless?

That alone?

The radio was playing in the background, but Jacob wasn’t really listening.

His mind was somewhere else.

Until suddenly, a song caught his attention.

It was Zach Williams singing “Fear Is a Liar.”

And something about those words broke through the darkness.

Jacob told us it felt like Jesus had climbed right into that car and sat down beside him.

That’s how he described it.

He couldn’t explain it any better than that.

He just knew that in a moment when he’d felt completely alone, he was being reminded that he wasn’t forgotten.

And the tears came.

He cried harder than he could remember crying.

But that night, instead of following through with what he’d been considering, Jacob made the decision to keep living.

And when he told us about it later, he said something I’ll never forget.

“That night didn’t end the way I planned. Thank God!”

Oh, friend.

Think about that.

A man who had reached a place where he couldn’t see a reason to keep going heard something that helped him hold on.

And it happened through a song playing on the radio.

Now, I don’t believe one song magically fixes everything someone is going through.

Pain that deep deserves compassion, support, and people who will walk alongside us as we heal.

But I do believe God can use a song, a Scripture, a conversation, or an unexpected moment of kindness to remind someone that their story isn’t over.

And that’s what I think about when I read Psalm 146.

“The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down.”

He lifts up those who are weighed down.

I love that picture.

Because sometimes life gets so heavy that we don’t know how to carry it anymore.

Grief.

Depression.

Fear.

Disappointment.

Things we never imagined we’d have to face.

And sometimes, when we’ve been carrying those burdens long enough, we start believing the lie that nobody sees us.

Nobody understands.

Nobody cares.

But that’s not the heart of Jesus.

When He walked this earth, He moved toward hurting people.

He didn’t turn away from their pain.

He saw them.

He listened.

He cared.

And He still does.

Maybe that’s why Jacob’s story stays with me.

Because when he describes that moment in his car, he doesn’t talk about hearing a great radio station or even a great song.

He talks about feeling the presence of Jesus.

And that brings me back to the question I started with.

What would it have been like to see Jesus?

To hear His voice?

To experience His compassion firsthand?

Well, we may not be able to stand beside Him on a dusty road in Galilee.

But we can still experience His love.

Through His Word.

Through prayer.

Through the people He places in our lives.

And sometimes, through an unexpected song that reaches us right when we need it.

Friend, I don’t know what you’re carrying today.

Maybe you’re walking through something so painful that you haven’t even found the words to tell somebody.

Maybe you’ve been smiling for everyone else while quietly falling apart inside.

Or maybe you know someone who’s hurting, and you don’t know how to help.

Please remember this.

You were never meant to carry your darkest moments alone.

Bring your pain to Jesus.

And let somebody you trust know what you’re going through.

There are people who care about you and want to help you take the next step.

Because your life matters.

Your story matters.

And even when you can’t see a way forward, there is still hope.

Jacob’s story reminds me that sometimes the most important moment isn’t when everything suddenly gets better.

It’s when someone finds enough hope to take one more step.

And maybe that’s what you need today.

Not every answer.

Not a perfect tomorrow.

Just enough hope for the next step.

The same Jesus who saw the hurting and lifted up the brokenhearted is still reaching people today.

Even in the places where life feels like it’s fallen apart.

Because Jesus is still reaching people in the rubble.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to encounter Jesus face-to-face? How have you experienced His love in your own life?
  • Can you remember a time when a song, Scripture, or unexpected conversation brought comfort when you needed it most?
  • Psalm 146 says the Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. What burden do you need to bring before Him today?
  • Why is it important to remember that seeking help from others can be part of how God cares for us?
  • Is there someone in your life who may be struggling quietly and needs you to reach out, listen, or simply remind them they’re not alone?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Who might need me to be a reminder today that Jesus sees them, loves them, and hasn’t forgotten their story? 

/by

The Story You’ll Never Hear

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Hebrews 13:16 — Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 

I read something this week that gave me so much hope.

Every year, Americans give hundreds of billions of dollars to help people in need.

And I know that’s a big number.

But you know what I kept thinking about?

Not the money.

The people.

The people who decided to give something away when they didn’t have to.

The people who looked beyond their own needs and saw somebody else’s.

And the people who chose to make a difference in the life of someone they might never meet.

Because behind every dollar given, there’s a person who made a decision.

I have something I can share.

And somewhere on the other side of that decision, there’s often another person with a story.

Maybe it’s a mom wondering how she’s going to put groceries on the table.

A family facing medical bills they never expected.

A child who needs a safe place to go.

Or someone who’s been carrying so much for so long that one simple act of kindness reminds them they haven’t been forgotten.

That’s what I love about generosity.

What we give away can become exactly what somebody else needs.

And sometimes, we’ll never even know it.

We’ll never hear the story.

We’ll never see the tears of relief.

We’ll never know whose burden got a little lighter because we chose to help.

But God knows.

And that’s what makes Hebrews 13:16 so meaningful to me.

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

I love that Scripture calls these acts of generosity sacrifices.

Because giving isn’t always easy.

Sometimes it means doing without something ourselves.

Sometimes it means rearranging our schedules.

Sometimes it means sharing what we have when we could easily find a reason to hold on to it.

And sometimes it means giving without knowing exactly how our gift will make a difference.

But God sees those choices.

He sees the heart behind them.

And Scripture tells us that doing good and sharing what we have are pleasing to Him.

Think about that for a moment.

Something as simple as helping a neighbor, giving to a ministry, bringing someone a meal, or quietly meeting a need can be an act of worship.

Not because the gift is enormous.

Not because anyone notices.

But because it comes from a heart willing to love.

And friend, I think that’s one of the beautiful ways God works through His people.

He takes what we’re willing to share and uses it to bring encouragement, comfort, and hope into someone else’s life.

We may never know how far that kindness reaches.

We may never hear what happened next.

But that doesn’t mean nothing happened.

Just because you don’t get to hear the story doesn’t mean there isn’t one.

So today, I want to encourage you to look at what God has placed in your hands.

Maybe you have money you can share.

Maybe you have time.

Maybe you have a skill, a meal, an encouraging word, or an opportunity to help someone who’s struggling.

Whatever it is, don’t underestimate what God can do through a willing heart.

Because somewhere, somebody may need exactly what you’re able to give.

And the beautiful thing is, you don’t have to know their name to make a difference.

You may never know their story. But God does.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever been helped by someone’s generosity without that person realizing how much it meant to you?
  • Why do you think God describes doing good and sharing with others as sacrifices that please Him?
  • Is it difficult for you to give when you don’t know exactly how your generosity will make a difference?
  • What has God placed in your hands that you could use to encourage or help someone else?
  • Who might be blessed today because you choose to give something of yourself?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

What if the gift I give today becomes the answer to a prayer I’ll never hear? 

/by

Hope at Register Three

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Ephesians 5:2 — Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 

The checkout total just kept climbing.

One number became another.

And another.

Until the woman standing at the grocery store register realized something.

She didn’t have enough money.

So she started doing what nobody ever wants to do.

Taking groceries off the counter.

One item at a time.

Can you imagine how that must have felt?

Standing there with people behind you, the cashier waiting, and everyone watching as you try to decide what you can live without.

Maybe the cereal goes back.

Maybe the extra milk.

Maybe something you’d promised your kids.

And with every item she removed, the embarrassment grew.

Until suddenly, she heard a voice behind her.

“No, put it all back. God told me to cover it for you.”

She turned around.

And there was a complete stranger.

Someone she’d never met.

Someone who had been standing there watching her struggle.

And instead of looking away, that stranger stepped forward and paid for her groceries.

Now, I don’t know about you, but if that happened to me, I’d probably cry.

Have you been to the grocery store lately?

Goodness gracious! Groceries cost an arm and a leg these days!

But here’s what I love about this story.

When that woman talked about what happened, it wasn’t just the groceries she remembered.

Of course she was thankful for the money.

Of course it was a tremendous relief.

But what stayed with her was something deeper.

For the first time in a long time, she felt seen.

Someone had noticed her.

Someone had cared enough to stop.

And in a moment when she felt embarrassed, overwhelmed, and probably pretty alone, a stranger reminded her that she mattered.

And through that simple act of kindness, she was reminded that God hadn’t forgotten her, either.

You know, sometimes I think we imagine God working only through enormous, spectacular things.

Parting seas.

Moving mountains.

Miracles that leave everybody standing there with their mouths wide open.

And yes, God can do extraordinary things.

But sometimes, His love reaches somebody through something as ordinary as a grocery store checkout line.

A stranger who notices.

A generous heart.

A simple decision to help.

And suddenly, somebody who felt invisible doesn’t feel so invisible anymore.

That’s what I think about when I read Ephesians 5:2.

“Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.”

I love that phrase.

Live a life filled with love.

Not just talk about love.

Not just believe love is important.

Actually live it.

And Paul tells us exactly whose example we’re supposed to follow.

Jesus.

Jesus didn’t love us from a distance.

He came near.

He saw people others overlooked.

He welcomed the outcast, cared for the hurting, and gave His very life for us.

His love was sacrificial.

And while we could never repay or equal what Jesus did for us, we can follow His example by choosing to love people in ways that cost us something.

Sometimes that means our money.

Sometimes it means our time.

Sometimes it means putting aside our own plans long enough to help somebody else.

And sometimes it simply means paying attention when everybody else is too busy to notice.

That’s what that stranger did in the grocery store.

She saw a need.

And she didn’t just walk past it.

She gave something of herself.

And I just love that.

Because generosity says, “You matter to me.” And love says, “You haven’t been overlooked.”

Friend, I wonder how many people around us are quietly hoping somebody will notice.

Maybe it’s the single mom trying to stretch her paycheck.

The older gentleman who doesn’t have anyone to talk to.

The coworker who smiles every morning but is carrying something heavy.

Or the person sitting a few rows away from you at church who just needs somebody to ask how they’re really doing.

You may not be able to pay for a cart full of groceries.

And that’s okay.

Because love doesn’t always come with a price tag.

Sometimes it’s a meal.

A phone call.

An encouraging word.

A little patience.

Or a few minutes of your undivided attention.

And no, you may not be able to change somebody’s entire life.

But you might be able to change their day.

You might remind them they’re not alone.

And you might help them see a little more clearly just how much God loves them.

So today, don’t spend all your time waiting for the seas to part or the mountains to move.

Just look around.

Ask God to give you eyes to see the people He’s placed in your path.

And when you see an opportunity to love somebody, take it.

Because sometimes the most powerful way to share the love of Jesus isn’t through something big or spectacular.

It’s through a simple act of kindness that tells someone…

“I see you. You matter. And you haven’t been forgotten.”

After all, sometimes hope begins with something as simple as being noticed.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever experienced an unexpected act of kindness that made you feel seen or valued? How did it affect you?
  • Why do you think being noticed and cared for can sometimes mean even more than the practical help someone receives?
  • Ephesians 5:2 calls us to follow Christ’s example of sacrificial love. What might loving sacrificially look like in your everyday life?
  • Who around you might be struggling quietly while everyone else goes about their day?
  • What is one practical way you could help someone feel noticed, valued, and loved today?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Who might God be asking me to notice today, and how can I show them His love in a tangible way? 

/by

More Than a Nice Thought

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Hebrews 10:24 — Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 

Emily Bissell once said, “Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.”

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately.

Because you know what?

We can have good intentions all day long.

We can talk about kindness.

We can believe in generosity.

We can think all the right thoughts and say all the right things.

And still leave somebody standing all alone.

I mean, how many times have you thought about calling someone, but never actually picked up the phone?

Or noticed somebody having a hard day and thought, I really should check on them.

But then life got busy.

Something else came up.

And before you knew it, the moment had passed.

I think we’ve all been there.

But when I look at the life of Jesus, something stands out to me.

Jesus didn’t just talk about love. He moved toward people with it.

He noticed the ones everybody else overlooked.

He touched people others wouldn’t go near.

He stopped for the hurting.

He fed the hungry.

He made room for people who had been pushed aside.

His love wasn’t just something He talked about.

It was something people experienced.

And ultimately, He demonstrated the depth of that love by giving His life for us.

That’s a lot to think about as we move through another ordinary day, isn’t it?

Because most of us won’t be called to do something extraordinary today.

We’ll go to work.

Take care of our families.

Run errands.

Answer emails.

Do the same things we did yesterday.

But somewhere in the middle of all that ordinary life, there will probably be an opportunity to love somebody well.

Maybe it’s making that phone call you’ve been putting off.

Maybe it’s encouraging a coworker who hasn’t seemed quite like themselves lately.

Maybe it’s sitting with someone who’s lonely.

Or noticing the person everybody else seems to walk right past.

And here’s where Hebrews 10:24 challenges me.

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”

I love that.

Let us think of ways.

In other words, don’t just wait for kindness to happen by accident.

Be intentional about it.

Pay attention.

Look for opportunities.

Think about what someone else might need and how you could help.

And don’t miss the other part of that verse.

We’re supposed to motivate one another.

That means the way we love people can encourage them to love somebody else.

Have you ever watched someone do something really kind and thought, You know what? I want to be more like that.

Maybe someone paid for a stranger’s meal.

Maybe you watched a friend quietly help somebody who was struggling.

Or maybe somebody showed up for you when you needed them most.

And their kindness stayed with you.

It made you want to do something for someone else.

That’s what happens when love gets moving.

One act of kindness encourages another.

One person chooses to care, and somebody else is inspired to do the same.

And suddenly, what started as one small decision reaches further than anybody expected.

Friend, the world doesn’t have a shortage of people who think kindness is a good idea.

What we need are people willing to put those good thoughts into motion.

People who don’t just say, “Somebody ought to do something.”

People who are willing to say, “Maybe that somebody is me.”

And here’s the beautiful thing.

You don’t have to have a lot of money.

You don’t have to have a perfect schedule.

And you certainly don’t have to wait until you’ve figured out some grand gesture.

You just have to be willing to notice someone and take the next step.

Because sometimes love looks like a meal.

Sometimes it looks like a text message.

Sometimes it’s a hug, a listening ear, or a few minutes of your time.

And sometimes the smallest act of love becomes the very thing that encourages somebody else to keep going.

So before today gets away from you, I want to challenge you.

Don’t just think about being kind.

Don’t just hope somebody knows you care.

And don’t assume somebody else will take care of it.

Consider one person.

Someone who could use a little encouragement.

Someone who needs to know they haven’t been forgotten.

Someone God has placed in your path.

Think about what love might look like for them today.

And then?

Do something.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever intended to encourage or help someone but never followed through? What kept you from acting?
  • Who has demonstrated Christlike love to you through something they actually did? How did it affect you?
  • What does it mean to intentionally consider how to encourage someone instead of simply waiting for an opportunity?
  • How might one act of kindness inspire someone else to show love or generosity?
  • Who is one person God has placed in your life who could use a tangible expression of love today? 

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Who have I been thinking about encouraging, and what can I actually do for them today? 

/by

The Hundred-Dollar Handshake

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Psalms 112:4-5 — Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. 

My mom had something I like to call the “Hundred-Dollar Handshake.”

And let me tell you, she was good at it.

I remember watching her do this at church when I was growing up.

Now, you’ve got to understand. Twenty-five or thirty years ago, a hundred-dollar bill was a pretty big deal.

I mean, that’s not money you just casually handed somebody on your way out of Sunday school.

At least, that’s what I thought.

But Mom?

Oh, she had a different way of looking at things.

We’d be standing around after church, talking to people, when I’d see her spot somebody across the room.

And then she’d reach into her purse.

And I’d think, Oh, here she goes again.

She’d pull out a hundred-dollar bill, fold it up in her hand, and make her way across the room.

She’d give that person a hug.

Whisper something in their ear.

Slip that money into their hand.

And then she’d just walk away.

No announcement.

No big production.

No waiting around for someone to thank her.

Just a hug, a handshake, and a hundred dollars.

And there I was, watching the whole thing, thinking…

Mom! Why are you giving away all our money? Don’t you know I need new cleats?

I’m serious!

I thought we were poor!

And the funny thing is, we didn’t have a whole lot of money to spare.

But Mom knew something I hadn’t figured out yet.

You don’t have to have a lot to live generously.

She wasn’t waiting until we had more money.

She wasn’t waiting until every need in our own house had been met and there was plenty left over.

She simply paid attention.

If she saw someone who needed encouragement, she encouraged them.

If someone needed help, she found a way to help.

And sometimes, that help came folded inside a hundred-dollar handshake.

Looking back, I realize something I didn’t understand as a kid.

Mom wasn’t just giving away money.

She was letting people know they mattered.

She saw them.

She noticed their struggles.

And instead of walking past and hoping somebody else would do something, she chose to be that somebody.

That’s what I think about when I read Psalm 112.

It describes people who trust God and whose lives are marked by generosity, compassion, and righteousness.

People who don’t just talk about loving others.

They actually do something about it.

And that’s what my mom modeled for me.

Now, I don’t want you to think she gave because she expected God to make her rich.

That wasn’t it.

She gave because she trusted Him.

And she believed that what she had wasn’t just for her.

It could be used to bless somebody else.

You know, when I was little, I measured what we had by what we could afford.

Did we have enough for new shoes?

Could we buy the things I wanted?

Why was Mom handing out hundred-dollar bills when I needed cleats?

But now that I’m older, I see our life a little differently.

We may not have had a lot of extra money.

But we were rich in the things that mattered.

Rich in compassion.

Rich in relationships.

Rich in the joy of helping somebody else.

And rich in the example of a woman who taught me that generosity isn’t just about what you give.

It’s about whether you’re paying attention.

And friend, I wonder who might be waiting for someone like that in your life today.

Maybe there’s a single mom who’s overwhelmed.

A neighbor who’s lonely.

A coworker who’s having a really hard week.

Or somebody at church who’s smiling on the outside but quietly carrying more than you know.

You might not have a hundred dollars to slip into their hand.

And that’s okay.

Because not every act of generosity comes with a dollar sign.

Sometimes it’s buying somebody lunch.

Sometimes it’s making a phone call.

Sometimes it’s sitting down long enough to really listen.

Sometimes it’s offering a ride, bringing a meal, or simply reminding someone that they haven’t been forgotten.

The most generous thing you give someone today might not come out of your wallet. It might come out of your heart.

So here’s my encouragement.

Start your own version of the Hundred-Dollar Handshake.

Look around.

Pay attention.

Ask God to help you notice the people He places in your path.

And when you see a need you can meet, don’t always wait for somebody else to do it.

Be generous with what you have.

Because years from now, somebody might not remember exactly what you gave them.

But they’ll remember that you saw them.

They’ll remember that you cared.

And they just might pass that kindness on to somebody else.

My mom probably never imagined that all those little handshakes would become one of the greatest lessons she ever taught me.

But here I am, all these years later, still talking about them.

And I’ve finally figured out something.

Mom wasn’t giving away our riches. She was showing me what made us rich.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Who has modeled generosity in your life? What did their example teach you about caring for others?
  • Have you ever held back from helping someone because you felt you didn’t have enough to give?
  • What’s the difference between giving to someone and genuinely noticing what they need?
  • Is there someone in your church, workplace, or neighborhood who might be quietly struggling and could use encouragement?
  • What do you have to offer today—money, time, attention, encouragement, or practical help—that could make a difference in someone’s life? 

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Who might God be asking me to notice today, and what do I already have that I could give? 

/by

Before the Answer Came

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Psalm 56:3 — But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. 

The waiting was the hardest part.

That’s what Kristine told us when she called the radio station.

A year earlier, she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer.

And now, here she was again.

Sitting in a doctor’s office because she’d had a cough that just wouldn’t go away.

A whole month of coughing.

And if you’ve ever walked through a cancer diagnosis, you know how quickly your mind can go to the worst possible place.

What if it’s back?

What if it’s in my lungs?

What if I have to go through all of this again?

The doctor ordered an X-ray.

And then came those words nobody likes to hear.

We’ll call you with the results.

So Kristine walked out to her car.

She climbed inside, closed the door, and sat there.

Waiting.

Bracing herself for a phone call that could change everything.

You know those moments, don’t you?

When your mind is racing, your heart is pounding, and you can’t do a single thing to make the answer come any faster.

You just have to wait.

And sometimes, waiting can feel like the loneliest place in the world.

But Kristine wasn’t alone.

As she sat there in her car, the radio was playing.

And then she heard Lauren Daigle singing “You Say.”

No, wait. It was another song.

“Be Okay.”

And as she listened to those words of reassurance, the tears began to fall.

She told us later that in that moment, the song felt like more than music.

It felt like God was gently reminding her of something she’d almost forgotten in the middle of her fear.

I’m still here.

Not I promise the test will come back clear.

Not You’ll never have to face another difficult diagnosis.

Just a reminder that whatever that phone call brought, she would not be facing it alone.

About twenty minutes later, her phone rang.

It was the doctor’s office.

There was no sign of cancer.

Can you imagine the relief?

After all that fear, all those terrible possibilities running through her mind, she finally had an answer.

And it was good news.

But when Kristine called to tell us her story, there was something else she wanted us to understand.

Something that mattered even before the results came back.

God had been there the whole time.

He was there in the doctor’s office.

He was there when she walked to her car.

He was there when she sat behind the steering wheel, afraid of what the next phone call might bring.

And He was there during those twenty long minutes when she didn’t know what was coming next.

I think that’s what makes Psalm 56:3 so powerful.

David wrote, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.”

Did you notice what he didn’t say?

He didn’t say, When everything works out, I’ll trust You.

Or When I finally get the answer I want, I’ll trust You.

He said, “When I am afraid.”

Right there.

In the middle of the uncertainty.

Before he knew how things would turn out.

That’s when he chose to trust God.

And friend, maybe that’s where you are today.

Maybe you’re waiting for test results.

Maybe you’re waiting for a phone call, a job opportunity, an answer about your marriage, or news about someone you love.

Maybe your mind has already imagined a hundred different endings, and most of them aren’t good.

I wish I could tell you that every phone call will bring the news you’re hoping for.

I can’t.

Sometimes the answer is wonderful.

Sometimes it’s heartbreaking.

And sometimes the waiting lasts a whole lot longer than twenty minutes.

But here’s what I can tell you.

God doesn’t wait for the answer to arrive before He shows up.

He’s with you while you’re waiting.

While you’re wondering.

While you’re trying to hold yourself together.

And even when you’re too afraid to know what to pray.

You don’t have to have the next twenty minutes figured out.

You don’t have to know how the story ends.

You can simply take the next breath, bring your fear to God, and remember that He is there.

Because sometimes the greatest comfort isn’t knowing what’s going to happen.

It’s knowing Who is with you before it does.

So if you’re waiting on an answer today, let me leave you with the words David prayed.

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.”

Not after the answer comes.

Not when the fear finally disappears.

Right now.

Because God is already there.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What are you waiting on right now that’s creating fear or uncertainty in your life?
  • When you’re waiting for an answer, does your mind tend to imagine the worst? What helps you bring those thoughts back to God?
  • Have you ever experienced God’s comfort before a difficult situation was resolved?
  • How does it change your perspective to know that God’s presence isn’t dependent on receiving the outcome you hoped for?
  • What would it look like to trust God with just the next twenty minutes instead of trying to figure out the entire future?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Can I trust that God is with me right now, even before I know how this story ends? 

 

L Y R I C S

You’re gonna be okay
You’re, you’re gonna be okay
Oh, the sun will keep on risin’ in that old familiar way
And every little thing is gonna be okay

You’re gonna be alright
Darlin’, you’re, you’re gonna be alright
‘Cause the stars’ll keep on shinin’ through the darkest night
And you can know you’re gonna be alright

Lift your eyes to the hills
Remember where your help comes from
Lift your eyes to the hills
You’ll never face a valley alone
‘Cause even when your heart is breakin’
And you’ve gone and lost your way
You’re, you’re gonna be okay

You’re gonna be okay
I know that you’re, you’re gonna be okay
Not a care in this whole world can take that truth away
You’re, you’re gonna be okay

You’re gonna be alright
Darlin’, you’re, you’re gonna be alright
At the end of all our breath, when we’re beckoned on to the light
Love’ll meet you there, you’re gonna be alright

Oh, the end of all our breath is the beginning of new life
You’re, you’re gonna be alright

Songwriters: Ellie Holcomb / Lauren Ashley Daigle

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The Weight of What-If

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Psalm 143:10 — Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. 

Growing up, there was one thing I was especially good at forcing.

Relationships.

From the time I was thirteen years old until I married my husband, I can probably count on one hand the months I wasn’t dating someone.

And looking back, I can tell you something.

That wasn’t because I had relationships all figured out.

Quite the opposite.

I was terrified of being alone.

And when you’re afraid of losing someone, you can start doing just about anything to keep them.

I tried to control situations.

I held on to relationships that weren’t healthy.

I let fear make decisions that should’ve been made with wisdom.

And I spent so much time worrying about whether someone would stay that I rarely stopped to ask whether the relationship was actually good for me.

My mind was constantly running through the same questions.

What if he leaves?

What if he finds someone better?

What if I end up alone?

Friend, let me tell you.

That is exhausting with a capital E.

Because when you’re constantly trying to hold everything together, you never really get to rest.

Looking back now, I can see something I couldn’t see then.

I was so busy trying to make my plans work that I wasn’t asking God what His plans might be.

I wanted control.

I wanted certainty.

I wanted everything to turn out exactly the way I’d imagined.

And that reminds me of two very different kings in the Bible.

Saul and David.

Saul was Israel’s first king. But when he repeatedly chose his own way over God’s instructions, the Lord rejected him as king.

And instead of humbly accepting God’s direction, Saul became consumed with protecting his position.

He even pursued David, the man God had chosen to succeed him.

David, on the other hand, spent years waiting for the kingdom God had promised him.

He had opportunities to take matters into his own hands, but he refused to kill Saul to claim the throne.

Now, David wasn’t perfect.

He made plenty of mistakes along the way.

But listen to the prayer he prayed in Psalm 143.

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.”

I love that.

Teach me to do Your will.

Not God, bless whatever I’ve already decided to do.

Not Lord, make this work because I want it so badly.

But teach me what You want, and help me walk in it.

What a difference that makes.

And I wonder how many of us are exhausting ourselves trying to hold on to something God is asking us to surrender.

Maybe for you, it’s a relationship.

Maybe it’s a job you’ve been chasing.

An opportunity you’re afraid someone else will get.

A plan for your family.

Or a future you’ve pictured so clearly that you can’t imagine anything different.

And there’s nothing wrong with having hopes and dreams.

But there is a difference between working faithfully toward something and trying to control every detail because we’re afraid of what might happen if we don’t.

I know that difference because I’ve lived it.

For years, I thought holding on tighter would make me feel secure.

But it only made me more afraid.

Because the tighter I tried to hold everything, the more terrified I became of losing it.

And here’s what I’m learning.

Trusting God doesn’t mean sitting back and doing nothing.

It means seeking His wisdom, taking the steps He’s given us to take, and being willing to surrender the outcome.

It means recognizing that a closed door isn’t always a failure.

And an open door isn’t automatically an invitation from God.

Sometimes we have to slow down long enough to ask Him which direction He wants us to go.

That’s why David’s prayer is becoming one I want to pray more often.

Lord, teach me to do Your will.

Not just when it’s easy.

Not just when His plans look like mine.

But even when I don’t understand where He’s leading.

Friend, maybe there’s something you’ve been holding so tightly that your hands are tired.

Maybe you’ve been fighting to make something happen because you’re terrified of what it would mean if it didn’t.

Can I encourage you today?

Open your hands.

Bring that relationship, that dream, that opportunity, or that uncertainty before God.

Ask Him to show you what faithfulness looks like right now.

And trust Him enough to follow, even when the path looks different from the one you planned.

Because I’ve discovered something after all those years of trying to control my own story.

Peace doesn’t come from finally getting everything to go my way. It comes from learning to trust the One who knows the way.

I don’t have to force every door.

I don’t have to control every outcome.

And I don’t have to live with clenched fists anymore.

I can give God my plans.

I can give Him my fears.

And I can trust Him with what happens next.

Because His hands are safer than mine.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

    • Is there something in your life right now that you’re trying desperately to control because you’re afraid of losing it?
    • Have you ever stayed in a situation or relationship longer than you should have because the uncertainty of letting go felt frightening?
    • When you pray about your future, do you spend more time asking God to bless your plans or asking Him to show you His will?
    • What can you learn from David’s willingness to wait rather than force the fulfillment of God’s promise?
    • What would it look like to pursue your responsibilities faithfully while surrendering the outcome to God?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

What am I holding so tightly that I need to open my hands and trust God with it?

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The Dog in the Doorway

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Psalm 56:9 — My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! 

Jake rules the school.

At least, that’s how things work in our house.

Jake is my cat, and Izzy is my dog.

Now, Izzy is about as sweet as they come. But Jake?

Well, I’m pretty sure that cat has been studying the ancient art of ambush.

I’m serious.

He has this little routine where he hides behind the door to my room and waits for Izzy to come walking through.

And let me tell you, Jake isn’t hiding because he’s scared.

Oh, no.

He’s preparing for battle.

And poor Izzy knows it.

I’ll watch her walk toward that doorway, stop dead in her tracks, and look straight at me.

Those big, sad puppy-dog eyes say everything.

Please help me. I know what’s waiting around that corner.

And I can’t help but laugh.

“Izzy, come on! Come on, girl. I’ve got you!”

But she doesn’t budge.

She looks at the doorway.

Then at me.

Then back at the doorway.

Because as far as Izzy is concerned, there’s a very dangerous cat waiting to ruin her day.

So eventually, I get up, walk over, and stand between her and Jake.

And wouldn’t you know it?

Here comes Izzy, trotting right through like she owns the place.

All she needed was to know I was there.

Now, I think this is hilarious.

I mean, it’s a cat!

But the more I watch it happen, the more I realize something.

Sometimes, I’m a whole lot like Izzy.

I can get so worried about what’s waiting around the next corner.

A conversation I don’t want to have.

A problem I don’t know how to solve.

Something that might happen tomorrow.

And before I know it, I’ve stopped moving forward because I’m afraid of what might be waiting on the other side.

I don’t even know for sure what’s going to happen.

But in my mind, I’ve already imagined the worst.

And there I stand.

Looking up at God with my own version of those sad puppy-dog eyes.

Lord, please help me.

Have you ever been there?

I think that’s why I love Psalm 56.

David was facing real enemies and real danger when he wrote these words.

And he said something so simple, but so powerful.

“This I know: God is on my side!”

Not this I hope.

Not this I think might be true.

This I know.

God is on my side.

And do you know what David says earlier in that same psalm?

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.”

I love that he didn’t say if I am afraid.

He said when.

Because even someone who trusted God as deeply as David did still experienced fear.

The difference was what he chose to do with it.

He brought it to God.

And friend, we can do the same thing.

We don’t have to pretend we’re fearless.

We don’t have to know exactly what’s waiting around the corner.

And we don’t have to figure out how to handle every possible problem before we take another step.

We can call on the Lord for help.

We can trust that He hears us.

And we can remember that whatever we’re facing, we’re not facing it alone.

Now, trusting God doesn’t mean every frightening thing will disappear.

Sometimes the hard conversation still has to happen.

Sometimes the problem is still waiting for us.

And sometimes we have to take the next step with our hearts beating a little faster than we’d like.

But we can be afraid and still move forward in faith.

That’s what Izzy reminds me of every time she stands in that doorway.

She doesn’t need to know what Jake is planning.

She just needs to know I’m there.

And maybe today, that’s what you need to remember, too.

You may not know what’s around the corner.

You may not know how everything is going to turn out.

But you can know this:

God is for you.

And the next time fear makes you want to stop right where you are, remember David’s words.

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.”

Then take the next step.

Because you don’t have to walk through that doorway alone.

Thank You, Jesus!

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What’s something in your life right now that feels like it’s waiting around the corner, making you hesitant to move forward?
  • Have you ever spent more time worrying about what might happen than dealing with what was actually happening?
  • How does David’s statement, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you,” change the way you think about fear and faith?
  • When you ask God for help, do you trust Him with the next step, or do you feel you need to know the entire outcome first?
  • Can you remember a time when God helped you through something you were afraid to face? How might that memory encourage you today? 

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

What doorway am I afraid to walk through, and what would change if I truly believed God was walking with me? 

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Barking Up the Wrong Fence

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Hebrews 13:6 — We can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” 

As the sun begins to rise, I lace up my running shoes and hit the pavement.

My morning route takes me past a used-car lot. At that hour, everything is still quiet. Rows of sedans and SUVs sit behind a chain-link fence, waiting for someone to drive them home.

But I hardly ever notice the cars.

You know what I notice?

The security system.

A hundred-pound Rottweiler.

And let me tell you, that dog takes his job seriously.

Every morning, like clockwork, the second he spots me, here he comes.

Charging across the lot.

Teeth showing.

Growling like I’ve personally offended him.

And even though I’ve run past that lot more times than I can count, I still get that little jolt of fear when he comes barreling toward me.

I mean, he’s a hundred-pound Rottweiler!

But lately, something has started to change.

Not the dog.

He’s still just as loud, just as intimidating, and apparently just as convinced that I’m a threat to the entire car dealership.

What’s changed is where I’m looking.

Instead of focusing on those teeth and that enormous dog charging toward me, I’ve started paying attention to something else.

The fence.

That chain-link fence standing between us.

Now, I still give that dog plenty of space. But when he starts barking, I remind myself that there’s a barrier between us.

And I keep running.

The funny thing is, the dog hasn’t changed.

The fence hasn’t changed.

What’s changed is what I’m choosing to focus on.

And I wonder how often we need that same reminder in our walk with God.

Because life has a way of sending things charging toward us, doesn’t it?

Fear.

Uncertainty.

Disappointment.

A difficult conversation.

A situation we never saw coming.

And sometimes those things feel enormous.

They’re loud. They’re intimidating. And they have a way of making us want to stop right where we are.

But listen to what Hebrews 13:6 says.

“The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear.”

And do you know what God promises in the verse just before that?

“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

I love that.

Our confidence doesn’t come from knowing that nothing frightening will ever happen.

It comes from knowing that whatever happens, God will not abandon us.

Now, God isn’t a chain-link fence.

And following Jesus doesn’t mean we’ll never get hurt, experience disappointment, or walk through something difficult.

But just as that fence reminds me there’s something I haven’t been paying attention to, God’s promises remind me there’s Someone I can always depend on.

Someone greater than the things that frighten me.

Someone who sees what I cannot see.

Someone who has promised to stay with me.

And maybe that’s what you need to remember today.

Maybe something in your life feels like it’s charging straight toward you.

Maybe you’ve been so focused on the size of the problem that you’ve forgotten the faithfulness of the God who walks beside you.

Friend, look again.

Not because the problem isn’t real.

Not because you have nothing to be concerned about.

But because the thing you’re facing isn’t the only thing that’s true.

God is with you.

He is your helper.

And He has promised never to leave you.

So tomorrow morning, when I lace up my running shoes and head past that car lot, I have a feeling that Rottweiler will be waiting.

He’ll probably bark.

He’ll probably charge.

And I’ll probably still jump a little.

But I’m going to keep running.

Because I’ve learned to remember something bigger than the thing that’s scaring me.

And whatever you’re facing today, I hope you’ll remember it, too.

Don’t let fear make you forget Who is with you.

Take courage.

Trust your Helper.

And keep running the race God has placed before you.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What’s the biggest source of fear or uncertainty in your life right now? How much of your attention has it been consuming?
  • Have you ever experienced a situation that didn’t change, but your perspective changed when you remembered God’s faithfulness?
  • How does God’s promise, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you,” affect the way you face difficult circumstances?
  • Are you allowing fear to keep you from taking a step you believe God is asking you to take?
  • What’s one practical way you can shift your focus from the size of your problem to the faithfulness of God today? 

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Am I spending more time staring at what frightens me than remembering the God who promises never to leave me? 

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Praying Scary Prayers

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Psalm 34:6 — In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. 

Some of the hardest prayers I’ve ever prayed have been for my son.

And honestly, they haven’t been very long or eloquent.

Sometimes, they’ve been just five words.

“God, do whatever it takes.”

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately on the prayer wall at 887thecross.com.

Not just reading other people’s requests and praying for them, but bringing my own heartache before God.

Because right now, I’m praying hard for my son, Anthony, and his wife, Christy.

They’ve pretty much shut us out of their lives.

And I won’t pretend that doesn’t hurt.

If you’re a mom or dad, you know there are a lot of things you spend your life trying to fix.

A scraped knee? You grab a Band-Aid.

A broken heart? You sit down and listen.

A difficult day? Sometimes a phone call, a conversation, or a really good hug can make things a little better.

But then there are the things you can’t fix.

The phone calls that go unanswered.

The conversations you wish you could have.

The distance between you and someone you love that you have absolutely no idea how to close.

And that’s where I am.

I can’t fix this.

I can’t make someone pick up the phone.

I can’t force a relationship to heal.

And I certainly can’t change someone’s heart.

So I’ve found myself praying a prayer that, if I’m being honest, scares me a little.

“God, do whatever it takes. Bring him back to You first. And then, Lord, if it’s Your will, bring him back to us.”

Now, I don’t pray that because I want something bad to happen.

Quite the opposite.

I pray it because I love my son, and I want God’s very best for his life.

But praying those words means admitting something I don’t particularly enjoy admitting.

I’m not in control.

And when it’s someone you love with your whole heart, that’s a hard thing to accept.

Maybe you understand.

Maybe there’s a name you carry around in your heart, too.

A son. A daughter. A spouse. A parent. A friend.

Someone who’s walked away.

Someone you can’t seem to reach anymore.

Someone you’ve cried over, worried about, and prayed for more times than you can count.

And you’ve finally run out of things to say.

That’s why I love Psalm 34:6.

David writes, “In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened.”

Did you catch that?

In my desperation.

Not when I had everything figured out.

Not when I finally found the perfect words.

Not when I knew exactly how things were going to turn out.

In my desperation.

David cried out to God, and God heard him.

And while I don’t know how my story with Anthony and Christy will unfold, I do know that the same God who heard David hears me.

Even when my prayers come through tears.

Even when all I can manage is a name.

Even when I don’t know what else to ask.

God doesn’t need me to have the answers before I come to Him.

He just invites me to come.

And here’s something I’m learning.

Giving someone to God doesn’t mean you stop loving them.

It doesn’t mean you stop hoping.

And it certainly doesn’t mean you stop praying.

It means you recognize that God’s hands are far more capable than yours.

It means you can keep loving someone, even when you can’t change the situation.

And it means trusting God with a story whose ending you cannot see.

Right now, that’s what I’m trying to do.

I pray for Anthony.

I pray for Christy.

I ask God to draw them close to Him, to protect them, to guide them, and to do the work in their hearts that only He can do.

And then I try, with everything in me, to leave them in His hands.

Some days, I do better at that than others.

Some days, I give them to God in the morning and find myself picking that worry right back up before lunchtime.

Maybe you know what that’s like, too.

But I’m learning that surrender isn’t always one big moment.

Sometimes it’s a prayer you have to pray again tomorrow.

And the next day.

And the next.

So, friend, if there’s someone you’re carrying today, can I encourage you?

You don’t have to know what God is going to do to trust Him with what you can’t control.

You don’t have to stop loving them.

You don’t have to stop praying for them.

But you can stop believing that everything depends on you.

Say their name.

Tell God how much you love them.

Tell Him how much it hurts.

Ask Him to work in ways you cannot.

And then, as best you can, place them in His hands.

Because the hardest part of prayer isn’t always asking God to do something.

Sometimes, it’s trusting Him enough to let go of what you were never able to control.

And if you find yourself reaching for that worry again tomorrow?

Pray again.

He’s still listening.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Is there someone you love whose choices or circumstances have left you feeling helpless? Have you been trying to carry responsibility for something you cannot control?
  • What makes it difficult for you to surrender someone you love into God’s hands?
  • Have you ever felt that your prayers weren’t enough because you couldn’t find the right words? How does Psalm 34:6 encourage you?
  • What’s the difference between giving up on someone and entrusting them to God?
  • Is there a name you need to bring before God today—not with a plan for how everything should turn out, but with a willingness to trust Him?

QUESTION TO CARRY WITH YOU TODAY

Whose name am I holding so tightly that I need to place them back into God’s hands?

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